Centers & Programs
Santander, Spain
May 25 – June 22, 2012
Santander is a beautiful city located in the autonomous community of Cantabria on Spain’s Northwest coast, just a few miles from Bilbao, San Sebastian, and the French Basque country. The beaches are breathtakingly beautiful, and unlike most of Spain, the region enjoys a very temperate summer climate. Santander is a financial center and former home to the world’s fifth largest bank. The academic program takes place at the University of Cantabria, and the program housing is located in the beautiful resort beach community of “El Sardinero” which is a short walk from the university and city center.
At a Glance
| Program Dates: | May 25 – June 22, 2012 |
|---|---|
| Program Director: | Associate Dean Calvin Peeler; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) |
| Host University: | Universidad dé Cantabria |
| Location: | Santander, Spain |
| Tuition: | $4,500 (max 6 units) [includes fees for legal and some cultural tours] |
Universidad De Cantabria
The Universidad de Cantabria is a large but exceptionally warm and friendly environment, and its law school enjoys an outstanding reputation. The full service campus is located within walking distance from the program housing facilities (see section on Program Housing) and about a 20 minute walk from the beach. Summer law classes are usually very small and held in small lecture halls or seminar rooms. The Universidad de Cantabria has a fully equipped law library with comfortable study spaces. It has various holdings in English, including several major American law reviews and journals. The Universidad de Cantabria’s International Relations Department warmly welcomes the opportunity to assist program participants, and many of its staff speak fluent English. The staff has a long and established history of coordinating with several American universities to offer language programs, student exchanges and cross cultural experiences. You may visit the Universidad de Cantabria website at http://www.unican.es.
Santander, Spain
This balmy resort city, site of northern Spain’s most spectacular ocean bay, boasts many outstanding examples of nineteenth-century architecture, beautiful beaches, world-class water sports, great nightlife, and a thriving music scene in its numerous and colorful cafes. Santander is in the heart of “green Spain” (or España verde), a lush coastal area of Spain protected by mountains from the intense heat that pervades most of the rest of the country in the summer. A large English speaking population, students from around the world, and a famed international music festival give Santander a particularly cosmopolitan atmosphere. A few minutes out of town, one can visit the prehistoric cave art of Altamira, the perfectly preserved medieval village of Santillana del Mar, and the architect Gaudi’s avant-garde palace, “El Capricho.” Santander and the Cantabria region are renowned for fine seafood and cheeses, pure and easily understood Spanish and folk music reminiscent of bluegrass. The proud inheritor of Christian, Jewish and Moorish civilizations, Spain is the most geographically and culturally diverse country in Europe. It is a democratic, tolerant society filled with opportunities for learning, sightseeing and nightlife. Within one or two hours away are Burgos, the Gothic domain of Spain’s legendary hero, El Cid, and the Spanish and French Basque country. Further afield is the breathtaking train ride through the mountains to Madrid, Spain’s largest city, and other parts of Spain. Santander is also ideally situated for excursions to Spain’s neighbors: France to the immediate northeast, including nearby popular resorts like Biarritz and Bayonne, or only about three hours away by car or bus. Portugal is not far to the west. There is also a fast and convenient ferry that connects Santander directly with England!
Courses
The program focuses on International & Comparative Family Law.
Introduction to Spanish Law (Emphasis on Family Law) (Lecture) – 2 units
Professor Sonia Martin, in collaboration with a team of faculty from the University of Cantabria and the local community.
This course introduces students to a variety of family law issues in Spain, and will survey the developments of Spanish law beginning with the Roman Empire to the present. Some attention will be given to the historical roots and influence of ancient Moorish and Jewish cultures as well as understanding the ramifications of the end of the Franco dictatorship. A significant portion of the course will be devoted to introducing students to modem Spanish civil law and its legal system.
Community Property (Lecture) – 2 units
Professor Calvin D. Peeler
This course focuses on modern California community property law, a marital property regime inherited from Spain, via Mexico. Topics covered include non-marital relations, putative spouses, prenumptial agreements, basic presumptions governing separate and community property designations, division of property at dissolution and death among other issues covered on the California bar exam. Some comparative law discussion, particularly regarding Spanish community property law.
Estate Planning (Seminar) – 2 units
Professor Joseph Donnini
During this course, we will analyze basic estate planning concepts such as revocable and irrevocable trusts, and wills; whether and how to avoid probate; April 16 asset protection; planning for minor children’s needs; medical care directives, organ and tissue donations, and other final arrangement instructions; life insurance settlement options and employee death benefits; selection of fiduciar(ies); and estate planning of intestate property. This course will be provide students’ with a basic foundation of essential estate planning concepts. These concepts will provide students with the skills needed to assist future clients in the distribution of their accumulated wealth and to make end of life decisions affecting minor children and other family members.
Spanish for Lawyers I (Lecture) – 2 units
Professor Jonathan Torres Ficachi
An introduction to Spanish language for lawyers, designed for law students who anticipate working with Spanish speaking clients. The goal of this course is to help students develop basic skills in reading, understanding and writing in Spanish. The course focuses on language acquisition sufficient for interacting with Spanish speakers.
Immigration, Citizenship and the Family (Lecture) – 2 units
Professor Stewart Chang
This course offers a comparative analysis of how family relationships, and how they are legally defined, provide the central avenues for citizenship and immigration benefits in the United States and in the European Union. Specific topics of study include birthright citizenship, family reunification immigration provisions, and intersections of family law with immigration.
Comparative Legal Systems (Seminar) – 2 units
Professor Calvin D. Peeler and Santander Faculty
[Course Description TBA
Accommodations for Participants with Disabilities
Individuals with mobility challenges are advised that the program housing facilities are not equipped with an elevator. However, please be advised that we have used alternative facilities nearby with an elevator. However, please be aware that some elevators may not be large enough to allow a person using a wheelchair to enter and completely turn around once inside the elevator as would be required for a wheelchair accessible elevator in the United States. The law facility at the University of Cantabria is accessible without the use of stairs. However, the classrooms, offices, libraries and food facilities are located on multiple levels. There is elevator access to all levels, but the elevators unlikely are large enough to accommodate many implements used to assist persons with mobility concerns. The elevators are often in demand, and wait times are likely. Therefore, an individual requiring the elevator may need extra time. Those students who require accommodations under the ADA should consult with their Student Services Dean or other appropriate university official to assist the Program Director to provide the approved accommodations and to protect student confidentiality.
Travel
Fly directly to Santander, connecting through another European hub city.
Fly to Bilbao, take a bus to Santander; fly to Madrid, take a train to Santander; or fly from Madrid directly to Santander.
Program participants are entirely responsible for arrangement and payment of all travel to and from the program site. For all American students, a valid American passport will be required. If you are not an American citizen or are ineligible for an American passport, you should consult with the nearest consulate for the country where the Summer Abroad Program will be held to obtain information about the necessary travel documents during your stay.
Housing Accommodations
Whittier Law School has secured housing accommodations for all program participants. Although most students choose to reside in the program housing, it is not a requirement to participate in the academic program. Participants are permitted to negotiate their own housing arrangements. However, Whittier Law School assumes no responsibility for housing you choose on your own. The program housing is a location for occasional group gatherings and is a central location for posting of notices to program participants. If you choose to find your own housing, you will be responsible for obtaining all program information posted at the program housing.
Participants may choose to stay in program housing: Apartamentos Las Brisas and Hotel Las Brisas. Both facilities are located across from the beach and within walking distance to the university. The walk to the University usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, and there are regular buses for those who do not wish to walk.
Please note that the housing units are similar but different. Each unit has its unique character. There is a limited number of each choice described below. Priority will be given to successful early applicants.
- APARTMENTOS Las Brisas: Apartments have a television, telephone, kitchenettes and private baths, private washing machine and daily maintenance.
- HOTEL Las Brisas: At the Hotel only, breakfast is included. Daily change of linen. Rooms vary in size, shape and convenience.
Although we encourage students to stay in our program housing at Las Brisas, we do not require it. Many program announcements are made at the program housing facilities, and we usually leave for trips and tours from or near the program housing. In the past, and on occasion, a few students have found alternative housing through connections and over the internet. Please be advised that we assume no responsibility for housing that you find on your own. Below is a link for shared housing in student facilities, including hostels that might interest you if the program housing costs exceed your budget. We share this site for your convenience, but we do not endorse it or make any representations of the quality or quantity of alternative housing units available through it. Search for Shared Housing
Externships
Externship opportunities are available, separate from or together with the Summer Abroad experience. Spanish language fluency is required. See Program Director, Associate Dean Calvin D. Peeler to apply.
h3. Access to Computers & Internet Service
There are a limited number of computers available at the university. Internet cafes are available throughout the city and the price varies. Students strongly recommend taking your own notebook/laptop computer particularly for those courses that require papers or written assignments.
Grading
Students are required to attend all classes and participate actively in all classes. All students receive a course grade based on class participation and a required paper or exam administered at the end of each course. Seminar classes have limited enrollment and require regular class participation. For seminars, students may be required to make group or individual presentations, and typically the most significant component of the final grade is determined by a research paper of approximately 10-15 pages per unit of credit to be determined by the professor.
All Whittier Summer Abroad Courses are graded by using the same grading system used for the on-campus program. We do not offer courses on a Pass/No Pass basis except for units earned for Externships, Independent Study projects, and clinical or extern units. Professors report numerical grades based on a 4.0 point system as follows:
- 3.6 – 4.0 (A)
- 3.0 – 3.4 (B)
- 2.5 – 2.9(C )
- 2.3 – 2.4(C-)
- 1.8 – 2.2 (D)
- 1.7 (F)
Reporting of Grades
Whittier Law School will report all grades once they are reported and finalized by the professors. Professors submit grades no later than six weeks after the end of the program. Non-Whittier students must inquire with their home school for policies regarding accepting courses and transferring credit for courses taken at Whittier law school’s summer programs. Whether credit will be accepted and how grades will be reported at the home school is entirely at the discretion of each student’s home school.
Grading Normalization
For more information regarding Whittier Law School’s grading normalization policies, please see Whittier Law School’s Policies and Procedures.
Visiting Students
The acceptance of any credit or grade for courses completed in a Whittier Summer Program by any law school other than Whittier Law School is subject to determination by the home school.
Admissions
The program is open to law students who have completed their first year of full or part time study by the time the program begins. Law graduates may be admitted as auditors. All students, except Whittier students, must submit a letter of good standing from the Dean or Registrar of their school.
The application deadline is March 1, 2012. Early applications are encouraged as program enrollment may be limited. Applications received after the March 1 deadline will be considered only if space is available.
You may request an application from the Law School or print the form from this site. For your convenience, you may submit your application(s) and the required fee(s) by mail, email, fax, or in person to:
Office of International Relations
Whittier Law School
3333 Harbor Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Fax: (714) 444-0855
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Attn: Jennifer Maniscalco
A complete application consists of a completed application form, and a non-refundable application fee of $100, payable by Visa, MasterCard or personal check. (Checks should be made payable to Whittier Law School. The application fee must accompany the application at the time of submission.)
Participant File
- A complete file consists of all of the following:
- Completed application form
- A letter of good standing from the Registrar of your law school (not required of Whittier Law School students). Students on Academic Probation are discouraged from applying, but will be considered on a case by case basis
- Copy of your passport [should be valid for the duration of your study abroad]
- Signed Acceptance Letter
- Signed Participation Agreement
- Signed Tuition Agreement
Residency Requirements
It is unlikely that participation in foreign summer programs may be used to accelerate graduation. Whittier Law students interested in acceleration should consult with the Student Affairs office to review this issue in light of Standard 305, Interpretation 4. Non-Whittier students should consult with their home school.
Course Registration
You will be required to select your courses no later than the March 1 application deadline. For some programs, there are several course choices. In order for the Program Director to know whether all courses will be adequately subscribed, we require early registration. For your convenience, we have included on each program website course descriptions and a course plan or syllabus for each course to enable you to make your selections. This information is critical for planning the operation of our programs so that we are certain to offer courses that interest you. In the event that a course for which you have enrolled is undersubscribed, we will notify you promptly so that you can consider alternative choices. Courses with insufficient enrollment will be cancelled.
Add/Drop Period: March 2 – 9, 2012
We must make early commitments of financial resources to operate our summer programs, including faculty assignments. Therefore, we will offer a very limited opportunity to add or drop a class after the registration deadline. Please consider carefully your course selections. You may change your registration until March 9 without consequence. Any request to add or drop a class(es) after March 9 will require an additional administrative fee of $25 per course.
Deadlines & Payment Schedule
Application Deadline: March 1, 2012. Applications received after this date will be considered only if space is available.
First Tuition Deposit Deadline: March 15, 2012. $200 Deposit Due
Final Tuition Balance & Housing Payment Deadline: April 15, 2012. (If you are applying for financial aid, please advise us.)
Last day to withdraw with no tuition obligation: April 15, 2012.
Requests to withdraw must be made in writing, and submitted or postmarked on or before April 15, 2012. Notices of withdrawal received after April 15 will not be considered for tuition/fee relief. Any program participant who withdraws after April 15 will be responsible for the full price of tuition and/or other non-refundable fees.
Failure to Comply With Deadlines
PLEASE NOTE: Failure to comply with a deadline will not automatically withdraw you from a program(s) to which you have applied and been admitted. Your failure to meet a defined deadline may subject you to an additional administrative fee. To request exemption from a deadline and avoid a fee, please contact the Office of International Relations.
Financial Aid
Projected Expenses based on figures from 2011 (may vary depending upon when you purchase your ticket, the carrier, and other variables.)
| Personal Expenses | $ 1,433 |
|---|---|
| Housing | $ 1,306 |
| Transportation | $ 1,800 |
| Tuition & Fees | $ 4,475 |
| Total | $ 9,014 |
Please see Study Abroad – Financial Aid
Withdrawal Policy
Admitted students are automatically enrolled in the program(s) and counted for purposes of program plans upon submitting the signed acceptance letter. Should a student decide to withdraw from a program(s), s/he must submit in writing a “Letter of Declaration” setting forth an intention to withdraw no later than the close of business on April 15, 2012. For timely requests for withdrawal, all appropriate tuition and/or fees will be refunded within 10 business days of receipt of a letter of withdrawal. Failure to withdraw by April 15 will subject a student to tuition obligations as well as other fees the Law School has advanced on his or her behalf.
Please be advised that the Program Directors make early commitments to secure housing, purchase materials and pay for other program expenses based upon the number of participants determined shortly after the application deadline. Additionally, the Law School makes non-refundable financial commitments to faculty, program activities, and foreign hosts based upon the anticipated student tuition revenue at the time of registration. Therefore, it will not be possible for Whittier Law School to accept requests for refunds and/or relief of commitment to pay tuition or housing fees after the April 15, 2012 deadline to withdraw. A student who withdraws from a program after that date will be liable for all fees and tuition.
Please be advised that once you withdraw from a summer program, there will be a $50 fee to re-activate your application and reserve your space in the program in the event that you subsequently change your mind. We understand that a few of you may need to change your summer plans, and we are ready to assist you as best we can. We wish you all a wonderful and productive summer.
Notices of withdrawal received after April 15, 2012 will not be considered for refund or for tuition fee relief. Any program participant who withdraws after April 15, 2012 will be responsible for the full price of tuition and/or other non-refundable fees.
Withdrawal after the April 15 Deadline
Whittier Law School will not refund tuition or housing fees or grant relief from these financial obligations under any circumstance after the April 15 deadline, not even in the event that a student withdraws for reasons or misfortunes beyond his or her control, e.g., academic disqualification, financial aid disqualification, medical emergencies, or any other unforeseen circumstances, etc. Therefore, it is very important that each student weigh carefully his or her decision to participate in one of Whittier Law School’s Study Abroad Programs. Since no tuition or housing fee will be refunded under any circumstance after April 15, students are encouraged to consider Tuition Insurance. You may inquire with the Jennifer Maniscalco for additional information regarding Tuition Insurance.
Changes in Course Offerings or Other Significant Aspects of the Program by Whittier Law School
Whittier Law School reserves the right to cancel or alter the Study Abroad Programs. The programs, or specific courses advertised, are subject to cancellation if the enrollment is insufficient or if a State Department travel warning has been issued for the country or area where the program will take place. Any cancellation or material alteration of the program will be promptly communicated to all enrolled participants. In the event that Whittier Law School decides to cancel, significantly change the course offerings, or make other material changes to a program, students will be notified and given the opportunity to withdraw without financial penalty. All tuition and all fees will be promptly returned. In the event of program cancellation, the Associate Dean for International Relations will assist displaced registrants to find suitable alternative summer programs.
Students on Academic Notice
Students typically learn their GPA in June after all grades have been submitted and published. It is particularly important that you carefully weigh whether you should apply to a Summer Abroad program if there is an apparent risk of academic disqualification. After April 15, 2012, no one is excused from financial commitments, even when disqualified and even when student loans are cancelled.
Program Enrollees Who Subsequently Learn That They Are Academically Disqualified
Please be advised that if you fail to withdraw by the withdrawal deadline and subsequently learn that you are academically disqualified, we will hold you responsible for tuition fees and any other fees we cannot recover should you decide not to attend the summer abroad program. Therefore, we invite your participation. You will be welcome to take courses, participate in enrichment opportunities, and fully participate in all program activities.
Please note, however, that due to your disqualification you will be ineligible to earn law school units or credit for your participation in the courses you take abroad. If you have concerns about your plans to go abroad, please contact the Office of the Associate Dean for International Relations.
Program Cancellation by Whittier Law School
Whittier Law School reserves the right to cancel or alter the Study Abroad Programs. The programs are subject to cancellation if the enrollment is insufficient or if a State Department travel warning has been issued for the country or area where the program will take place. Any cancellation or material alteration of the program will be promptly communicated to all applicants. In the event that Whittier Law School cancels a Study Abroad Program or makes a material alteration to the academic curriculum of any program, we will promptly return all tuition and all fees. In the event of cancellation, the Associate Dean for International Relations will assist all displaced registrants to find suitable alternative summer programs.
Medical Insurance
Whittier Law School assumes no responsibility for medical care or costs, and students may be required to show proof of health insurance that covers medical expenses incurred abroad. You are advised to check with your medical insurance provider to see if your current medical insurance covers emergency medical care while overseas. If it does not, you are strongly encouraged to consider buying supplemental medical and hospital coverage for the period of your stay overseas. You might inquire with your medical provider, insurance agent or travel agent.
Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to obtain medical evacuation insurance. Such insurance may be obtained from various providers including, but not limited to, the following possible providers: Travel Assistance International, (800) 821.2828 , http://www.travelassistance.com; Global Travel Insurance, (800) 232.9145 , http://www.globaltravelinsurance.com; and Travel Insurance Services, (800) 937.1387 , http://www.travelinsure.com; The Gateway Plans http://www.gatewayplans.com; Wallach & Company Inc. http://www.wallach.com; BETiNS, (866) 552-8834 , http://www.betins.com.
Administrative Staff
Associate Dean Calvin D. Peeler is the stateside director responsible for planning and overall administration of the program, and he will be the on-site director during the program. You can reach him at: 714-444-4141 ext. 111 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
For April 16 inquiries, you may also contact Jennifer Maniscalco at: 714-444-4141 ext. 111 or
Upcoming Events
CIPL Colloquium: “Judicial Perception of Patent Litigants”
February 22, 2012 4:00pm-5:30pm
Moot Court and Trial Ad: Student/Alumni Mixer
February 22, 2012 5:30pm-7:00am
WPILF Auction
February 25, 2012 6:00pm-11:00am
Recent News
Highlight on Moot Court
Trial & Appellate Practice
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3333 Harbor Boulevard • Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.444.4141 • 800.808.8188
